Jumping for joy at the opening of our newest branch!

It's finally here!

Our newest branch – Park Street Library @ the Lyric opens October 2nd!

At our newest branch we're honoring our past while celebrating our vibrant future – together.

Come on down and see what's in store for you at

the Park Street Library @ the Lyric!

Our newest location will be the largest of our six community libraries.

A ribbon-cutting will be held on September 30th and the library will open its doors to the public on October 2nd.

Current Hours of Operation:

Mondays & Wednesdays – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fridays – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn More about our event on October 2nd HERE

HPL celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month!

Sept. 15 — Oct. 15

We honor and celebrate the history, culture and contributions of our Hispanic and Latino community.

This week we celebrate Ana Alfaro, a Harford Public Library board member who was instrumental in seeing the Park Street Library @ the Lyric project to completion.

Born in Honduras, Ana serves as Corporate Relations and Hispanic Media Relations Senior Specialist at Eversource Energy. She is also host of El Show de Analeh, a Spanish-language talk show that focuses on issues in the Latino community.

Ana is all about community. She is committed to volunteerism, overseeing volunteer projects for Eversource and serving on multiple boards across the city. She has received numerous awards related to her work in the community.

“Don’t quit before the miracle happens. Timing is everything!" Ana Alfaro

We've got even more recommendations by outstanding Latino authors.

Like Water for Chocolate

Laura Esquivel

The number one bestseller in Mexico and America for almost two years

We're kicking it way back for this recommendation.

Winner of the American Booksellers book of the Year Award in 1994, this bestselling phenomenon and inspiration for the award-winning film tells the story of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico and blends poignant romance and bittersweet wit.

"Each chapter of Esquivel's utterly charming interpretation of life in Mexico begins with a recipe--not surprisingly, since so much of the action of this exquisite first novel centers around the kitchen, the heart and soul of a traditional Mexican family." – Publisher's Weekly

Carmelo

Sandra Cisneros

From the winner of the 2019 PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature.

We can't get enough of Sandra Cisneros' gorgeous writing.

Every year, Ceyala “Lala” Reyes' family—aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers, and Lala's six older brothers—packs up three cars and, in a wild ride, drive from Chicago to the Little Grandfather and Awful Grandmother's house in Mexico City for the summer.

"'Caramelo is enchanting. Soulful, sophisticated and skeptical, full of great one-liners. it is one of those novels that blithely leap across the border between literary and popular fiction." – New York Times

Be a part of our Big Read Community

Together we'll celebrate Sandra Cisneros’s novel The House on Mango Street.

Click HERE for the full lineup of programming.

Our kickoff event will feature an outdoor performance from the Mariachi Academy of New England at the Downtown Library on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.

Reserve your copy HERE

Interested in these titles or others?

Check out our entire library catalog (books, films, music, etc..) HERE

It's Banned Books Week

(How Many Have You Read?)

Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.

Banned Books Week is the annual celebration of the freedom to read.

HPL is proud to be part of a larger community that supports and encourages the freedom to express ideas, even those considered unpopular.

Through books we can reach across boundaries and build new connections.

Check out this list of the 10 most challenged books in 2020 HERE

ArtWalk is Back!

(Our first exhibit since February 2020)

Another reason to jump for joy!

We are so pleased to present the work of artist Wladyslaw Prosol.

Born in Poland, he now calls New Britain home. He was trained as an architect before he became an artist.

Enjoy abstract paintings and nontraditional landscapes in the exhibit Portrait of a Picture.

Join us for the opening on November 5 at 6 p.m.

Check out more of his work HERE

What a Glorious Day

Thank you to everyone who joined us this past Saturday for our Hartford Changemakers mural celebration in honor of William Henry Jacklyn, Hartford's first Black firefighter!

Special thanks to Congressman John Larson and Mayor Luke Bronin for being a part of the important moment for generations of Black firefighters.

The Hartford Changemakers mural project was hosted by Steve Harris and led by artists Lindaluz Carrillo and Kayla Farrell along with community members.

Longtime advocate of Hartford History, North End resident, HPL board member and former Hartford fire Captain Steve Harris addresses the attendees. (Photo courtesy of Andy Hart)

The American Place @ HPL Receives $250,000 Grant From U.S. Citizenship & immigration Services!

Funding will support programs to help Hartford-area immigrants, refugees on their path to citizenship

TAP has received a two-year, $250,000 grant from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to continue its important work helping immigrants and refugees on their path to citizenship.

“Given that the pathway to citizenship can be daunting and lengthy for many hardworking immigrants, Hartford Public Library’s recent USCIS award will allow us to continue offering both cost-free citizenship application and educational support,” said Homa Naficy, executive director of The American Place. “We are privileged to provide such life-changing services.”

It's the last day of

Library Card Month

Come on down to your neighborhood branch and sign up today!

It's easy! And free!

Learn more HERE

P.S. Spoiler alert: you can get a library card any month.....

"The soul never ages, the soul, ball of light tethered to that nuisance the body."

Sandra Cisneros - Carmelo

Your support makes a difference — make a gift to the library today. Thank you!